Combined cradle and baby-jumper.



Patented luly 15,1902."

.1. w. 'BLAcKLEnsL COMBINED CRADLE AND BABY JUMPER.

(Appumion mea xu. s; moo. mma nec. 11,1901.)

(Ilo {I ndel.)

.WiINEssESf I .WVM/TOR.A

i BY

fm. c, 16M/4,

FQ ATTORNEK UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN `W. BLACKLEDGE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COM'BINED CRADLE AND BABY-JUMPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters :Patent N0. 704,774, dated July 15, 1902. Applieationiiled Maroh, 1900. Renewed December 1l, lQl. Serial No. 85,494. (No model.)

is to provide a portable baby-jumper that will adord a delightful and helpful exercise for the child and at the same time the necessity of va separate cradle be avoided.`

The full nature ofmy invention will be .uns

derstood from the accompanying drawings and the description following of one form ofV device embodying my inventiomand the scope of said invention will be understood from the claims following said description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line A A of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an inside elevation of the spring tension device,Y parts being broken away. Fig. l4 is a bottomview of the seat and spring on which it is mounted. Fig. 5 is a cross-section onthe line B B of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail of the means for attaching the rockers tothe frame.

In detail I make a rectangular frame con-- sisting of the slide-bars l and the end bars 2 and 3. At one end of this frame I mount the spring 4, that carries the seat 5 and the hammock 6. Said spring is made of one piece of wire formed into one or more coils 7 near'itsends, the ends 8, however, lying flat on the side bars near one end of them and the extreme ends of the spring turned down into the wood or bars l. vAdjustablereinforcing and holding hooks 9 extend throughV the bars l and hook over the wires S. As shown in Fig. 2, the hooks 9 have threaded ends and nuts 10, whereby the hook canrfbe drawn down more tightly on "the wire or released, thereby adj usting the springiness of the seat. The resiliency of the supporting-wire 4 is primarily determined largely by the number of coils 7 g but usually one coil will suiiice. However, in order to strengthen the spring under the dugout. Y

weight of the child I provide an adjustable tension device. (Shown in Fig. 3.) It consists of the hook ll, that'is caught over one of the coils 7 and is connected by the turnbuckle 12 with the bolt ,13, that extends through one of thebars 1 and is secured by the nut-14. Byv tightening this tension device onthe coil the fulcrum ofthe spring 4 is transferred from itsextreme end or from the hook 8 to the place where the hook 1l engages it. The purpose of the foregoing tension device is to provide for the effect of the increasing weight of the child, as well as the increasing weakness of the spring, and also to provide for children of various weights. `In addition to the foregoing means the seat 5 is adj nstably`- mounted on the spring 4, whereby it can be moved closer to' the connection of the spring with the frame, thereby strengthening `the springand enabling it to support a child of heavier weight or to meet thev increasing weight of the child. The means for attaching theeseat are shown in'Figs.-4 and 5. A clamping-bar 15 is curved, the curved portion fitting overthe wire 4, withone end held down in placeby,v the screw 16, entering the bottom of the seat, whilethe other end is held in place by thebolt 16,'that'e`xtends through the bottom of the seat and the clamp'l. Said clamp is tightened by the thumb-nut 18; l Said screw -16 and-boltl7 extend through longitudinal 4slots 19 in each end of thegclamping-plate 15. This notonlyenables theseatto be moved vir'omone placevto another, but'also to be wholly removed..

f Y.20,is astrap to prevent the child from fall- A hammock 6 is provided under the seat. This consists of strong canvashwith a series of hooks 2l about it that catch over 4the wire 4. At the front end thisiisdrawnmtight to prevent the child or any objects fromjalling out of it. The middleportionis allowed to sag considerably, so that the child will have room to lie in it and for its feet to extend down while sitting in the seat and for holding playthings while the child is in the seat. It also prevents injury to the child if it should fall forward out of the seat and is a great help to the child as it grows older to get into and out of the seat. The seat can be re- IOO moved entirely and the hammock used as a bed. When this is done,by placing the frame of the device on the rockers it can be used as a cradle. The ineans for attaching the frame to the rockers are such as to permit the ready removal of them, because when the child is awake it would be more desirable for the frame to rest solidly on the floor. The rockers are provided with recesses in which the bars l of the frame rest and are secured by the removable catches 22, that are station.

ary in the rocker.

The seat can be held down in a rigid position by the links 25, pivoted on each side of the main frame and hooked to the spring-wire above. This connection is necessary while the device is used as a cradle, but when used as a baby-jumper these links are unhooked and turned down on the frame.

The extreme resiliency of the spring 4, whereby it bounces the baby at the slightest touch or change of position, gives to the device great Value. The movement is up and down, but not wholly vertical, and has considerable range, whereby the baby receives the benet of the eXhlaration that ensues from the operation of the device. The baby can operate the juniper itself after a little experience, and the feet of the baby can rest on the hammock. Unlike most baby-j umpers, this device is not attached to any permanent object or place. Therefore it can be readily carried or removed to any desired place out or in the house.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure lby Letters Patent, is

I. The combination of a frame, a spring made of wire with the ends secured flatly on the frame then coiled and extended backward so as to be substantially horizontal when under strain, hooksthat are caught over the coils and secured to the frame with their length adjustable whereby the resiliency of the spring may be regulated, and a childsupport on the free end of the spring.

2. The combination of a frame, a spring secured at one end thereto with two arms or sides extending backward so as to be substantially horizontal when under strain, a seat detachably secured on the free end of the spring, and a hammock secured between the spring-arms.

3. The combination of a frame, rockers upon which the frame is detachably mounted, a spring made of wire secured at one end to said frame and extending backward so as to be substantiallyhorizontal when under strain, a hammock suspended between the arms of said spring, and links connecting the free end of the spring and the frame whereby the spring is rendered stationary.

In witness whereof I have hereunto aixed my signature in the presence of the witnesses herein named.

' JOI-IN W. BLACKLEDGE.

Witnesses:

M. C. BUCK, V. H. LoCKwooD. 

